Lichfield

Lichfield's population grew between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in.

The population passed 100,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Lichfield increased by 8.0%, from about 93,200 to 101,000.

The addition of about 7,400 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Lichfield was home to, on average, 2.2 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was lower than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Changing work life

The rate of self-employment increased in Lichfield, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the West Midlands.

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of self-employed people, as the regional average grew from 7.4% to 8.5%.

In 2011, just over 1 in 10 (10%) people aged 16 to 74 in Lichfield said they were self-employed, compared with 9.9% in 2001. The percentage that were employed decreased from 56% to 53%.

The rate of self-employment was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that that said they were self-employed across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households with a single-parent increased in Lichfield, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the West Midlands, except Herefordshire.

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of single-parent households, as the regional average grew from 10% to 11%.

In 2011, just under 1 in 12 (8.2%) households in Lichfield had a single parent, compared with 7.6% in 2001. The percentage with a married couple decreased from 47% to 40%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households that that had a single parent across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Lichfield residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.1% to 5.1% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 70% in 2001. The percentage of Lichfield residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 9.7% in 2001 to 6.1% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Lichfield decreased by 2.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Lichfield, the West Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Lichfield

The number of people in Lichfield from the White ethnic groups increased from about 91,000 in 2001 to just over 97,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 97%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the West Midlands (from 89% to 83%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Lichfield from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 890 in 2001 to about 1,600 in 2011 (from 1.0% to 1.6%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 500 to just over 1,000 (from 0.5% to 1.0%).

About 480 people (0.3%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just under 240 in 2001 (0.5%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Lichfield decreased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Lichfield by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Lichfield working less than 16 hours increased from 1.6% to 2.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under one in eight (12%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 16% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 1.7% in 2001 to 3.0% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Lichfield increased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Lichfield, the West Midlands and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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